The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues ranging in capacity from 75 to 500 seats indoors and 5,000 outdoors.

“The 2018 Festival lineup is shaping up to be the best ever combination of Americana, Country, Folk, Alternative and Blues songwriters” says Russell Carter, Festival Co-Producer. “The 30A Songwriters Festival is a unique cultural event like no other in this area. The Festival brings together nearly every South Walton community and many businesses to showcase our home as a destination not only for its beautiful beaches but also for its musical and creative excellence, which is the purpose of the Cultural Arts Alliance,” says Jennifer Steele, the Executive Director and Festival Co-Producer. “The Festival is critical to the mission of the Cultural Arts Alliance and by far our biggest fundraiser. 100% of the Festival’s net proceeds go back into our non-profit and enable the CAA to continue to be a champion for the arts in Walton County.”

RITA WILSON

Well-known as an actress (It’s Complicated, Sleepless in Seattle, a recurring role in CBS’s The Good Wife, HBO’s award-winning series, Girls and, most recently on Broadway in Larry David’s smash hit, Fish in the Dark), and as a film producer (Mamma Mia!, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and its sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, for which she co-wrote and performed Even More Mine) her first love is music. In May 2012, Wilson realized a lifelong dream with the debut of her solo album AM/FM. The album, released by Decca/Verve Records, is an intimate, elegant and beautifully sung collection of covers of her favorite songs from the ’60s and ’70s. Since the release of AM/FM, Wilson has been focusing on a new component of her musical career as a songwriter. In March 2016, she released her self-titled second album, showcasing her skill for creating insightful, eloquent singer-songwriter pop music that is etched with stunning honesty. For two years prior to the release, Wilson worked with a host of the finest award-winning and best-selling songwriters and producers in both Los Angeles and Nashville. This new material was prominently featured in her two-week residency at the famed Café Carlyle in New York City. “Ms. Wilson has a catch in her voice that conveys yearning and potential heartbreak behind a façade of cheer. As a stage performer, she is gregarious and forthright; a natural entertainer,” said The New York Times.

RHETT MILLER (OLD 97’S)

Lead singer of The Old 97’s Rhett Miller released his new solo album, The Traveler, on May 19th 2015. The album features the instrumentation of Black Prairie (membs. Of The Decemberists), Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey (membs. Of REM) and is Rhett’s seventh solo effort. “Miller’s songs have been described aptly as “smart, funny, and thoughtful. They evoke a larger world of constant existential yearning, minus any tedious genre purism.”

– Mother Jones

GARY LOURIS

Over the last three decades, singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Gary Louris has built a deeply compelling body of music whose artistry and integrity has won the loyalty of an international audience and the respect of both critics and his peers. Best known for his seminal work with The Jayhawks, Louris is one of the most acclaimed musicians to come out of Minnesota’s teaming rock scene. With Louris as a key member, The Jayhawks have kept their fans happy with 9 studio albums since 1985. In 2016 The Jayhawks released Paging Mr Proust, which many critics called their best album in years. Louris is also a founding member of Golden Smog, has released one solo album in 2008 and in 2015 released the debut album by Au Pair, a side project with Django Haskins. Over the years Louris has also found time to lend his writing, performing and production talents to albums by acts as diverse as the Black Crowes, the Dixie Chicks, Joe Henry, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Roger McGuinn, Maria McKee, Nickel Creek, Tift Merritt, the Sadies, The Wallflowers and many others.

CORY CHISEL & ADRIEL DENAE

Wisconsin native Cory Chisel first connected with the power of song – and the spellbinding possibilities of live performance – through the music he heard in church. His father was a Baptist preacher, his mother played the organ and Chisel and his sister sang. The gospel’s rich vernacular of loss and redemption also informed his innate poetic sense and lyrical range. Chisel went on to become a critically acclaimed recording artist who was deemed one of 2009’s “Best New Artist’s” by Rolling Stone for his RCA release Death Won’t Send A Letter. His latest release Old Believers came out in 2012. Chisel has played festivals around the world including Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and Newport Folk Festival; appeared on Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman and Conan. In 2017 Cory Chisel released Tell Me True, his first duo album with partner and bandmate Adriel Denae.

LILLY HIATT

“Gonna hang on a little bit longer, sleep well, work a little harder; put my faith in something I can’t see,” sings Lilly Hiatt on the title track of her third LP, Trinity Lane. It’s a set of honest words from an album of personal truths; a collection of songs that take stock of where she’s been, where she’s going and the challenges she’s weathered to get there. Produced by Michael Trent of Shovels & Rope, Trinity Lane is indeed about hanging on, working hard and keeping the faith, centered on songwriting that melds the observational with the confessional and never tries to follow any particular genre code – the guitar riffs are as Seattle as they are southern, the topics are modern as they are built on the past. East Nashville’s Trinity Lane is where Hiatt lives, and Trinity Lane is a document of what lives inside her. “There is a lot of hope in the album,” says Hiatt about the follow-up to her sophomore LP, Royal Blue. “There is a lot of pain, but this album is a more mature response to that pain. It’s taking responsibility of those emotions, and realizing what they are. A little brighter perspective. It took some time to get there.” Trinity Lane is full of gifts and full of guts – an album that is a healing process and a road map forward, filled with Hiatt’s wildly expressive approach to songwriting and stark, honest lyrics.

Join Adam Caperton and explore some of the best French regional wines at Friday’s Loire Valley Wine Tasting or Southern Italian wines on Saturday at the Pointe on 30A. Travis Croxton, the owner of the Rappahannock Oyster Company will be in town with two of his chefs Shane Graybeal and Jessica Opperman from RockSalt. The tastings begin each afternoon at 4:30pm on the roof top bar at the Pointe observing the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico – with champagne and Rappahannock oysters. The full tastings, food, and music begin on the ground level at 5:00pm to 6:30pm. Look forward on Friday to musical performances by Marc Harris & Jab Wilson and Lauren Staley & Jason Morrow of the Whiskey Gentry and on Saturday by Marc Harris & Jab Wilson followed by Jade Jackson.

Saturday Grayton Beer Taproom Performances: This Saturday night special event will feature musical performances by the Luther Dickinson Band (of North Mississippi Allstars) and Aaron Lee Tasjan with his band. Ticket holders will also receive complimentary Grayton Beer! Doors at 6pm, Performances from 7pm – 9pm.

The 30A Songwriters Festival has once again teamed up with NPR’S Folk Alley, a multi-media music service produced by WKSU. Folk Alley will be on site throughout the weekend producing unique sessions interviewing artists and filming and recording performances in a home studio on 30A to be posted on folkalley.com. ASCAP returns as a sponsor and hosts a three-night series of up-and-coming and seasoned songwriters in the round and late night artist parties.

Net proceeds from the 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL benefit the CAA and help it to fulfill its mission to advance the arts throughout Walton County. Members of the CAA receive a 10% discount off weekend passes and admission to an exclusive performance on Wednesday, January 10th. Call (850) 622-5970 to become a member and take advantage of the discount.

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Inc. is the officially designated local arts agency that serves as an umbrella organization and supports the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. The vision of the CAA is to be the catalyst for Walton County’s growth as a center for artistic and cultural excellence through which lives are enriched, economy is stimulated and community is strengthened. www.culturalartsalliance.com.

About Russell Carter Artist Management

Russell Carter Artist Management is a full service artist management firm that has worked with national recording artists since 1990. Prior to forming RCAM, Russell Carter practiced entertainment law in Atlanta for ten years. RCAM produces the 30A Songwriters Festival together with the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, and books and produces the Wire & Wood Alpharetta Songwriters Festival in Alpharetta, GA in conjunction with the City of Alpharetta.

About Presenting Sponsor Grand Boulevard at Sandestin

Grand Boulevard at Sandestin is the shop, dine, play and stay Town Center located in the heart of South Walton, offering an array of shopping and dining venues, entertainment, events and lodging. Shop specialty retailers, enjoy great restaurants and Boulevard 10 Cinema. Two Marriott hotels are conveniently located within the Town Center. www.grandboulevard.com.